Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Centennial, CO
VS
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
🏆 Centennial leads 18 of 23 categories
Centennial
Colorado
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$124,617 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
45 ✓ Safer
Population
107,702
Rancho Cucamonga
California
5
wins
Cost of Living Index
107.9⚠ High
Median Household Income
$105,534
Violent Crime Index
77
Population
174,696 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Centennial, CO
Pros
41% less violent crime than Rancho Cucamonga
Violent crime is well below the national average (172.8 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 2.0 pts lower (3.4%)
More college-educated — 61.3% hold a bachelor's or higher
Households earn $19,083 more per year on average
Commutes run 7 min shorter each way
Cons
Snowy winters — about 64" of snow per year
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Pros
Milder winters — January highs near 68°F vs 45°F
Cons
Median income trails Centennial by $19,083/yr
Pricier housing — median home is $657,400
Higher rents — median is $2,184/mo
Higher unemployment (5.4% vs 3.4%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Centennial
Cost of Living
2% cheaper
COL index 105.5 vs 107.9 (100 = US avg)
Centennial
Median Income
$19,083
$124,617 vs $105,534/yr
Centennial
Violent Crime
41% lower
172.8 vs 293.7 per 100k
Centennial
Median Home Value
$71k less
$586,500 vs $657,400
Centennial
Unemployment
2.0 pp lower
3.4% vs 5.4% unemployment
Rancho Cucamonga
Summer Heat
6.5°F warmer
July avg high 93.8°F vs 87.3°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Centennial, CO | Rancho Cucamonga, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 105.5⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 107.9⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $586,500⚠ High ✓ Lower | $657,400⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,949⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,184⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $124,617 ✓ Higher | $105,534 |
| Unemployment Rate | 3.4% ✓ Lower | 5.4%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 26.0 min ✓ Shorter | 33.0 min⚠ High |
| Work From Home % | 21.2% ✓ Higher | 10.4% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 60 ✓ Safer | 81 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 45 ✓ Safer | 77 |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 81 ✓ Safer | 86 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A- (115) ✓ Better | C+ (83) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 25.1:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 61.3% ✓ Higher | 37.0% |
| High School or Higher | 97.4% ✓ Higher | 91.8% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Cherry Creek School District No. 5 in the county of Arapah | Alta Loma Elementary |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 44.6°F | 67.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 87.3°F | 93.8°F ✓ Warmer |
| Annual Precipitation | 15.0" ✓ Drier | 17.2" |
| Annual Snowfall | 64.0" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 107,702 | 174,696 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 41.6 ✓ Older | 37.5 |
| Homeownership Rate | 82.3% ✓ Higher | 63.3% |
| Under 18 | 22.5% | 22.7% ✓ More |
| Over 65 | 17.9% ✓ More | 13.2% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Centennial's cost of living index is 105.5 vs Rancho Cucamonga's 107.9 (US average = 100).
Centennial is 2% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Centennial leads 18 of 23 categories. Centennial wins 18 and Rancho Cucamonga wins 5. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Centennial to Rancho Cucamonga or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($586,500 vs $657,400 median home), income ($124,617 vs $105,534), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Centennial, CO and Rancho Cucamonga, CA are about 796 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.